Electrical switches with indicator means

ABSTRACT

An electrical switch includes a body, a first terminal member supported by the body and electrically connected to a fixed contact of the switch, and a bulb holder detachably engaged with the body. A second terminal member is secured on the bulb holder and is arranged to engage one of the contacts of a bulb supported in the bulb holder in use. A resilient, conductive, connector is secured to the first terminal member and is arranged to engage the other contact of a bulb supported in the bulb holder in use, the connector being stressed when engaged with the other contact of the bulb so that the other contact is engaged firmly by the connector.

[ 1 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WITH INDICATOR MEANS [72]inventor: David Foley, 89 Mosley Road, Bumley,

England [22] Filed: July 15,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 55,020

3,457,383 7/1969 Roberts, Jr. et al. ..200/167 A X 3,514,565 5/1970Juery ..200/167 A 3,350,531 10/1967 Koepke ..200/167 A PrimaryExaminer-H. 0. Jones Attorney-l-lolman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT Anelectrical switch includes a body, a first terminal member supported bythe body and electrically connected to a fixed contact of the switch,and a bulb holder detachably engaged with the body. A second terminalmember is secured on the bulb holder and is arranged to engage one ofthe contacts of a bulb supported in the bulb holder in use. A resilient,conductive, connector is secured to the first terminal member and isarranged to engage the other contact of a bulb supported in the bulbholder in use, the connector being stressed when engaged with the othercontact of the bulb so that the other contact is engaged firmly by theconnector.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEBMARZI 1972 3,651,295

NVE NTOR Jaw)! 7 ATTORNEYS ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WITH INDICATOR MEANS Thisinvention relates to electrical switches.

A switch according to the invention includes a body, a first terminalmember supported by the body and electrically connected to a fixedcontact of the switch, a bulb holder detachably engaged with the body, asecond terminal member on the bulb holder arranged to engage one of thecontacts of a bulb supported in the bulb holder in use, and a resilient,conductive, connector secured to the first terminal member and arrangedto engage the other contact of a bulb supported in the bulb holder inuse, the connector being stressed when engaged with said other contactof the bulb so that said other contact is engaged firmly by theconnector.

In the accompanying drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspectiveviewpartly cut away of the base of a switch according to one example ofthe invention, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch shown in part in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the switch includes a moulded synthetic resinbody 11 having an integral base 12. Extending through the base 12 are apair of blade terminals 13, 14 which are electrically connected torespective fixed switch contacts within the body 11. A movable bridgingmember within the body 11 is movable in response to movement of theoperating member of the switch to bridge the fixed contacts, and therebycomplete an electrical circuit between the blade terminals 13, 14.Extending through the base 12 is a passage 20 within which is detachablyreceived a moulded synthetic resin bulb holder 15. The bulb holder 15 ishollow, and is internally screw-threaded to receive a bulb 16 of thekind including a conductive cap 17 which constitutes one contact of thebulb, and which carries the second contact of the bulb, the secondcontact of the bulb being insulated from the cap. The end of the bulbholder 15 is closed by a terminal plate 18 which is riveted to the bulbholder 15, and which is engaged by the second contact of the bulb. Theterminal plate 18 is riveted to the bulb holder 15 at a point spacedfrom the point which it is engaged by the second contact of the bulb,and the terminal plate 18 is resilient, so that when the bulb 16 isscrewed into the bulb holder 15 the terminal plate 18 is flexed, and theinherent resilience of the plate 18 ensures that a good electricalconnection is produced between the plate 18 and the second contact ofthe bulb.

The blade terminal 14 is formed, adjacent the body 1 1, with a hole 19through which one end 22 of a resilient, metal wire 21 extends. One wallof the bulb holder 15 is formed with an aperture, and the end of thewire 21 remote from the blade terminal 14 extends across the aperture inthe bulb holder 15, and lies in contact with the cap 17 of the bulb 16,thereby electrically interconnecting the blade terminal 14 and the cap17 of the bulb. The blade terminal 14 constitutes an anchorage point forthe wire 21, and the wire 21 is stressed when its end remote from theblade terminal 14 is engaged with the cap 17. Thus, the inherentresilience of the wire 21 ensures that a good electrical connection isproduced between the wire 21 and the cap 17 of the bulb 16 at one end,and the blade terminal 14 at the other end. Moreover, the wire 21 servesto retain the bulb holder 15 in position relative to the body 11 andserves to resist disengagement of the bulb from the bulb holder.

The operating member of the switch is a rocker type operating member,and is provided with a transparent lens 24 (FIG. 2) which is illuminatedby light from the bulb 16, when the bulb 16 is energized.

In use, the terminal 13 of the switch is a feed terminal, and theterminal 14 is electrically connected to earth through the componentcontrolled by the switch. The terminal plate 18 is connected to earththrough a conductive lead 23 and so when the switch is in its madeposition, with the contact piece of the switch electricallyinterconnecting the terminals 13,14 then the circuit to the componentcontrolled by the switch is completed, and a circuit throu h the bulb 16is completed by way of the wire 21 and the lea 23, so that the bulb 16is energized. Thus, a visible indication that the switch is in its madeposition is given by the illumination of the lens in the operatingmember, by light from the bulb 16. It will be appreciated that the lensneed not be on the operating member of the switch, and in the case wherethe switch is of the type having an operating lever rather than a rockertype operating member, the lens will be provided on the body 1 1.

In one practical utilization of the switch described above the terminal13 is electrically connected to one pole of the battery of a roadvehicle, the other pole of the battery being connected to earth. Theterminal 14 is electrically connected through the reversing light of theroad vehicle to earth, and the lead 23 is also connected to earth. Thus,when the switch is in its made position the reversing light of thevehicle is energized, and the bulb 16 is also energized so that avisible indication that the reversing light is switched on is given tothe driver of the vehicle.

Iclaim:

1. An electrical switch including a body housing a switching mechanism,a first external terminal member supported by the body and electricallyconnected to a fixed contact of the switching mechanism of the switch, abulb holder detachably engaged with the body, a second terminal memberon the bulb holder arranged to engage one of the contacts of a bulbsupported in the bulb holder in use, and a resilient conductiveconnector secured to the first terminal member and arranged to engage,externally of the body, the other contact of a bulb supported in thebulb holder in use, the connector being stressed when engaged with saidother contact of the bulb so that said other contact is firmly engagedby the connector.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second terminal member isformed from a resilient material and is stressed when a bulb is engagedin the bulb holder so that said second terminal member is firmly engagedwith said one contact of the bulb.

3. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a bulb engaged in the bulbholder in use serves to illuminate a lens carried by the switch toindicate when the switch is in its made position.

1. An electrical switch including a body housing a switching mechanism,a first external terminal member supported by the body and electricallyconnected to a fixed contact of the switching mechanism of the switch, abulb holder detachably engaged with the body, a second terminal memberon the bulb holder arranged to engage one of the contacts of a bulbsupported in the bulb holder in use, and a resilient conductiveconnector secured to the first terminal member and arranged to engage,externally of the body, the other contact of a bulb supported in thebulb holder in use, the connector being stressed when engaged with saidother contact of the bulb so that said other contact is firmly engagedby the connector.
 2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said secondterminal member is formed from a resilient material and is stressed whena bulb is engaged in the bulb holder so that said second terminal memberis firmly engaged with said one contact of the bulb.
 3. A switch asclaimed in claim 1 wherein a bulb engaged in the bulb holder in useserves to illuminate a lens carried by the switch to indicate when theswitch is in its made position.